Parashat Shoftim (Judges)
D’varim (Deuteronomy) 16:18 -21:9
Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12-52:12
This week's parashah, Shoftim, offers us a profound reflection on justice and leadership, themes that resonate deeply with the current situation in Israel. The ongoing "Judicial Reform" debate is a stark reminder of the timeless struggle to establish a just and moral society, a struggle that the Torah addresses directly.
In Deuteronomy 16:18-19, God commands Israel to:
…appoint judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.
This passage highlights the necessity of impartial justice, free from corruption and favoritism. It is a reminder that true justice is rooted in righteousness, not in the influence of power, wealth, or personal interests.
The ongoing debate in Israel reflects the tension between different visions of how justice should be administered and the essential need for a judiciary that serves the people with integrity. As we consider the biblical mandate for righteous judges, we must recognize that the challenge of maintaining a just society is not new. Israel's history, from its earliest days to the present, shows the difficulty of achieving this ideal, reminding us of our constant need for divine guidance.
The parashah also addresses the role of a king in Israel, stating:
When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, and you inherit it and live in it, and you say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses."
Deuteronomy 17:14-15
The king should not seek personal gain; he does not "multiply horses for himself," and does not "multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away," but rather, one who "shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests" and "shall read it all the days of his life" (Deuteronomy 17:16-19). The king’s role is to lead the people in righteousness, relying on God rather than military might, wealth, or political alliances.
The tragic news we received this week, of the discovery of the bodies of young Israelis who were taken hostage by Hamas and later murdered, brings the reality of our times into sharp focus. In these moments of profound grief, the words of the Haftarah from Isaiah 51:12-52:12 offer us comfort:
“I, I Myself, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of mortal man, and of a son of man who is made like grass... For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar (the LORD of armies is His name) ... and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”
Isaiah 51:12-16
The prophet reminds us that God is our ultimate judge and comforter, calling us to trust in Him alone, even in the face of our deepest sorrows and fears.
As we reflect on the themes of judgment and kingship in this week’s reading, we are reminded of the ultimate convergence of justice and mercy in the person of Messiah Yeshua. Yeshua spoke of the "cup" in the garden of Gethsemane, saying:
“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” Matthew 26:39
Yeshua chose to drink the cup of God's wrath so that we would not have to, allowing us to drink from the cup of salvation. As the Psalmist proclaims,
“I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD”
Psalms 116:13
In a world where human leaders and judges often fail, we are reminded that Yeshua is our only hope. He is the ultimate and everlasting Judge and King, who fulfills all righteousness. May our eyes be opened to Him, and may we place our trust in Him alone.
Shabbat Shalom,
Moran
2 Comments on “True Justice in Messiah”
Thank you for the knowledge you impart. I have learned much and I want to hear what is going on in Israel, which we don’t hear on the news.
Amen.
I want you to know that Israel is not carrying the current burden alone. I feel like I’m living under a dark cloud. There is so much uncertainty. How do I plan for the long term when I am convinced that my future is tied to what happens in Israel and the situation there is so precarious?
I very much appreciate the updates I get from Hope for Israel, and also these teachings on the weekly portions.
Life for me, far from Israel, is very much affected by events there. I mourn the loss of hostages and soldiers. Often the tears flow with the news of more lives lost.
I wish I could do something for some of those displaced from their homes in the north or around Gaza, but my finances are extremely limited, and I know of nothing I can do. But I carry the heaviness and sadness.
May God give you strength as you live every minute in this hard situation. I do pray that God will touch hearts of Arabs around the area and in the world to draw them to understand and believe in Moshiach.
Justice will come, despite the injustice we experience now. A righteous King will rule, despite the unrighteousness we now see in all levels of government.